Workers for a Devon joint-venture waste contractor are facing pay cuts due to coronavirus.
Some staff at Tor2 in Torbay will lose up to a fifth of their wages and the GMB union says they have been threatened with the sack if they do not voluntarily accept the new terms.
Household waste and recycling collections are carrying on as usual in Torbay despite the virus outbreak, but the waste and recycling centre in Paignton closed last week and bulky waste and garden waste collections will be temporarily suspended from Friday, April 3.
Tor2 was set up by services contractor Kier Group and Torbay Council to run waste and recycling collections and other services including maintenance of highways and open spaces.
Kier Group has brought in reduced wages for around a third of its 18,000 staff as part of its response to the economic slowdown caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, and says fewer than one in 10 of the Tor2 workforce are affected by the temporary measure.
A statement by the GMB on Tuesday said: “Despite refuse collection being classed as essential work by the 海角视频 Government, the group has asked several grades, including waste collection supervisors, to take pay cuts ranging from 7.5% to 20%, due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The union were flabbergasted that they were not consulted as a recognised trade union in the legally binding framework. Instead they were only informed when they received calls from members expressing concern at the situation.”
GMB organiser Matt Roberts said the union was “extremely disappointed” that despite trade union recognition being in place the company had failed to consult or negotiate about the proposal.
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Mr Roberts said: “There is no apparent justification whatsoever for any of our members taking a 7.5% to 20% pay cut. There is no reduction in work, as the bins are still being collected, and presumably Torbay Council continue to pay the contract.
“TOR2 Ltd is a company in its own right, and any issues elsewhere in the parent Kier Group are irrelevant to any business case to cut our members' wages in this company.
“In fact, this feels opportunistic, by taking advantage of the current national health crisis to take money from our hardworking members in what is clearly key work. It’s a disgrace and an insult.
"How dare Kier Group exploit this situation of national crisis to take money from loyal hardworking staff who live and work in Torbay and work for a Torbay-only company."
A Kier spokesperson said: “On the 22 March, we confirmed a number of measures taken by the Group in response to COVID-19, including the executive committee taking a three-month reduction in their base salary.
“On the 27 March, we announced that further groups of employees would also take a three-month salary reduction, ranging from 7.5% to 20% dependent on their grade and our executive directors would take a 25% salary reduction during this period. Less than 10% of staff from the Tor2 contract are being asked to take a reduction in their salaries.”
Torbay Council has decided to bring waste collection back-in house when the 10-year deal with Tor2 finishes at the end of June.